Duplicating systems with sheet handling features

ABSTRACT

An improved reproduction system for making duplicates from an original having a printing cylinder provided with a clamp for selectively receiving, holding or ejecting a master, a take-up assembly adapted to cooperate with an eject mode of cylinder clamp operation to receive a discharged master, an original and master material feeding assembly adapted to bring the original and master into registry and carry the sandwiched original and master material into an imaging assembly to make a duplicating master, a transfer assembly adapted to transfer the imaged master toward the cylinder clamp, and the latter operating in a receiving mode adapted to draw the master to the printing cylinder, and to hold the imaged master during a print mode of cylinder operation in which reproductions are made. The system has controls for programming the machine through respective preparation, function and print cycles.

United States Patent 11 1 Bornem an [451 July 15, 1975 1 1 DUPLICATING SYSTEMS WITH SHEET HANDLING FEATURES [75] Inventor: Lawrence A. Borneman, Lombard,

Ill.

[73] Assignee: A. B. Dick Company, Chicago, Ill,

[22] Filed: Oct. 25, 1973 [21] App]. No: 409,757

Related U.S. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. 190,925,260, Dec, 15, 1971), Pat. No.

Primary Examiner-Evon C. Blunk Assistant Examiner-Robert Saifer Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Ronald Jr LaPorte; Peter S. Lucyshyn [57] ABSTRACT An improved reproduction system for making duplicates from an original having a printing cylinder pro' vided with a clamp for selectively receiving, holding or ejecting a master, a take-up assembly adapted to cooperate with an eject mode of cylinder clamp operation to receive a discharged master, an original and master material feeding assembly adapted to bring the original and master into registry and carry the sandwiched original and master material into an imaging assembly to make a duplicating master, a transfer assembly adapted to transfer the imaged master toward the cylinder clamp, and the latter operating in a receiving mode adapted to draw the master to the printing cylinder, and to hold the imaged master during a print mode of cylinder operation in which reproductions are made. The system has controls for programming the machine through respective preparation, function and print cycles.

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1. A sheet transfer system for transporting a pair of sheet members sandwiched together with a lead edge of the first sheet forward of the lead edge of the second sheet to separate, predetermined locations, respectively, said system including in combination: a member mounted for rotation, said member including an outer porous cylinder and air flow means to provide an attractive force for drawing said sandwiched pair of sheets against the periphery of said cylinder as the latter rotates, said first sheet comprising the outer sheet of said sandwiched pair, whereby said drawing means acts only on the lead edge of said first sheet for attracting the first sheet to the periphery of said cylinder, said sandwiched sheets being drawn to the periphery of said cylinder at a first, home position and carried thereby in the direction of rotation thereof along a path about the outer periphery of said cylinder, valving means included in said cylinder for releasing said attractive force, and means for controlling said valving means to selectively remove said attractive force only from the lead edge of said outer sheet upon the latter being carried to a first location downstream of said home position, thereby releasing said sheet for travel aloNg a separate path away from said cylinder, said valving means being effective to maintain said attractive force on said second, inner sheet for transporting said lastmentioned sheet on said cylinder to a second location about the periphery thereof, downstream of said first location, whereat said second, inner sheet is removed from said cylinder.
 2. The combination of claim 1 including means provided at said second location for stripping the second, inner sheet from said cylindrical member and directing it in a separate second path.
 3. The combination of claims 1 wherein said outer porous cylinder includes selective peripheral portions coupled to said air flow means to define a segmental zone of attractive force; and said valving means includes an inner selectively rotatable cylinder concentric with said outer cylinder having openings to control communication between said air flow means and said outer cylinder peripheral portions; and said control means includes means for effecting relative rotation between said outer and inner cylinders for selectively adjusting the position of said segmental zone of attractive force in accordance with the rotational position of said outer cylinder while transporting the sheet sandwich about the outer cylinder periphery.
 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said inner cylinder is rotatable with said outer cylinder for moving said segmental zone of attractive force with transport of the sheet sandwich.
 5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said means for effecting relative rotation between said outer and inner cylinders maintains said zone of attractive force in fixed orientation until the leading end of the first, outer sheet is transported beyond said zone of attractive force a predetermined amount and the second, inner sheet substantially overlies said zone, whereupon said selective rotation effecting means initiates movement of said segmental zone of attractive force.
 6. The combination of claim 3 wherein said outer cylinder includes a central shaft means for mounting said cylinder for rotation and said inner cylinder includes central shaft means mounted within said outer central shaft means concentrically therewith and wherein said means for effecting relative rotation between said outer and inner cylinders includes means for coupling and decoupling said outer and inner shafts whereby said inner cylinder is made to rotate or remain stationary with respect to said outer cylinder, said coupling-decoupling means including spring means wrapped about said outer shaft and connectible with said inner cylinder central shaft means upon being coiled, and means coupled to said spring means for coiling and uncoiling said spring means in accordance with the rotational position of said outer cylinder. 